Chat to PAT – an outreach service providing comprehensive primary health care to marginalised people

People living at the margins of the community have significantly worse health outcomes, and this is most stark for those experiencing homelessness, who have up to a 20-year lower life expectancy. Access to comprehensive, relationship-based, longitudinal primary health is recognised as a key factor in high-performing healthcare systems, yet marginalised individuals rarely have access to these services. This paper provides a detailed description of a mobile primary healthcare service in Canberra, ACT, that focuses on caring for people with current or past alcohol and drug dependency, mental health, and other complex health and social needs. The funding structure, clinical governance, and infrastructure are outlined as an exemplar model for a sustainable, high-quality primary healthcare service for people experiencing marginalisation. This innovative hub and spoke model is an example of how comprehensive primary health care can be provided to those most in need so that they can also benefit from longitudinal, relationship-based health and social care.